Unique Mechanism of Chance Fracture in a Young Adult Male

Aaron Birch,Ryan Walsh,Diane Devita

doi:10.5811/westjem.2012.9.12646

Abstract

Since the first description of the Chance fracture in 1948, there have been few case reports of unique mechanisms causing this classical flexion-extension injury to the spine in motor vehicle accidents, sports injury, and falls. To our knowledge, this injury has not been reported from a fall with the mechanistic forces acting laterally on the spine and with spinal support in place. We present a 21-year-old male who slid down a flight of stairs onto his side wearing a heavy mountaineering style backpack, subsequently sustaining a Chance fracture of his first lumbar vertebrae.

Highlights

Chance fractures are seen usually as the result of flexionextension injury, most notably during motor vehicle collisions with the advent of lap seatbelts
We present a 21-year-old male who slid down a flight of stairs onto his side wearing a heavy mountaineering style backpack, subsequently sustaining a Chance fracture of his first lumbar vertebrae. [West J Emerg Med 2013;14(2):147-148.]
CASE REPORT We present a 21-year-old male with no significant past medical history who presented to the emergency department (ED) after a fall down approximately 10 stairs

Summary

Unique Mechanism of Chance Fracture in a Young Adult Male

Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Tacoma, Washington. Since the first description of the Chance fracture in 1948, there have been few case reports of unique mechanisms causing this classical flexion-extension injury to the spine in motor vehicle accidents, sports injury, and falls. To our knowledge, this injury has not been reported from a fall with the mechanistic forces acting laterally on the spine and with spinal support in place. We present a 21-year-old male who slid down a flight of stairs onto his side wearing a heavy mountaineering style backpack, subsequently sustaining a Chance fracture of his first lumbar vertebrae. We present a 21-year-old male who slid down a flight of stairs onto his side wearing a heavy mountaineering style backpack, subsequently sustaining a Chance fracture of his first lumbar vertebrae. [West J Emerg Med 2013;14(2):147-148.]

INTRODUCTION

Lateral Flexion